FWIW Tanzer rates these similarly to Aubert, Parker slightly below Aubert, so I’m hoping to enjoy these and not resent having to buy them just for the Pinot. (Plus they are somewhat cheaper than Aubert.)
I don’t know about you guys but I am getting extremely disgusted with the wine lists that I am on. I travel a lot for work and am not able (or willing in some dodgy locations) to order allocations on cell phone. I go in to order my SVD chards here and Rachel’s is sold out. Now dang it I am a long time list customer and this whole first come first serve crap is getting old. I missed Lewelling, Bedrock, Rivers Marie etc this year already and frankly I am getting really tired of this. Is anyone else here tired of supporting wineries through thick and thin only to have this type of thing happen??? I called the winery and expressed my exasperation with this and frankly asked if I could skip the whole allocation because I have always bought a sampling of everything so I could try it all…waiting to hear back…Maybe I am just getting cranky in my old age but damn this is frustrating.
A few comments to the effect that the Rochioli SVD Chards do not age well prompted me to pull the cork on an 04 South River tonight. Bright, crisp, tons of tropical fruit flavors. Really aging effortlessly in my opinion. Years to go as well.
Tom
Twitter: @NWTomLee
Placed my order but was too late for the Rachael’s.
These will be my first SV Chards from Rochioli - so will see how they fare.
I just checked back in my CT notes and found a tasting note for the 2005 Estate Chard which I enjoyed.
I have also enjoyed their Pinots and Sauv. Blancs.
Opened a 05 River Block and while good, not as good as the last time, this bottle didn’t seem ready.
Popped a 2009 Sweetwater. I really enjoyed it. Classic Cali Chard profile but with a graceful structure that lets you know there’s a skilled winemaker behind the scenes here. I prefer this to Aubert.
I popped a '06 Riverblock less than half a year back and it was dead. I totally agree with you two. Rochioli does make some nice wines but not all live up to the price point. I like the svd pinots much better. For me I’d rather drink a Gary Farrell Allen or Rochioli svd for almost $20 less. If anyone has read Heimoff’s A Wine Journey along the Russian River Tom says River block is a mess and only planted becasue of demand for Pinot Noir. See the bottom of page 181-182. All in all some of their wines are GREAT others are over-priced.
I’m sorry David but with all due respect your take on what Heimoff wrote seems slightly out of context. The way I read it Heimoff has high praise for winemakers like Cabral and Rochioli regarding their use of the Riverblock fruit.
Tom